Literary Devices – Bemidbar 32/0
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Literary Devices – Bemidbar 32
Structure
Parallels and Contrasts
Key Words
פנים
- Tanakh Lab demonstrates that the word “פָּנִים” (always in the various forms of "לִפְנֵי" or "מִפְּנֵי" is the second most frequently-used word in this chapter, appearing 12 times. This word relates to the question of how the members of Gad and Reuven understand the religious significance of conquering the land. They initially declare that they will enter battle “לִפְנֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל” (verse 17). Moshe changes this phraseology, instructing them four times that they will go to war “לִפְנֵי י״י” (verses 20-22). They then adopt his language in verse 27, stating that they will go to battle “לִפְנֵי י״י”. This use of the word “lifnei” highlights a central concern of the chapter: do the Bnei Gad and Reuven understand the religious, not only national, significance of the conquest of the land?